Highly Integrated Wireless Device Supports Multi-Band GSM/GPRS and 3G EDGE Applications

Skyworks Solutions introduced a new single-chip direct conversion transceiver that simplifies the design of multi-band GSM handsets.

Building on the success of Skyworks' first-generation device, the company has also integrated the crystal oscillator circuitry and power amplifier controller functionality into a smaller 8mm x 8mm package, further reducing the customers' bill of materials cost by $1-2 per phone.

Skyworks' new CX74063 transceiver supports general packet radio service (GPRS) and enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE) standards, and provides a well-defined roadmap to dual-mode, wide-band code division multiple access (W-CDMA)/GSM universal mobile telecommunications (UMTS) handsets. These handsets will support such advanced applications as multimedia and high-speed Web browsing.

"I am extremely pleased with the market acceptance of our first generation direct conversion transceiver -- in a little over a year since the product was introduced, more than 20 customers have developed new handsets featuring our device," said Mohy Abdelgany, Skyworks' vice president of RF Systems.

"Our second-generation product is sampling now with lead customers and is already gaining momentum. We expect to see new GSM/GPRS handsets based on our design in the channel by the end of the year."

"Our latest single-chip implementation now includes integrated crystal oscillator circuitry and a power amplifier controller -- making this solution ideal for handset manufacturers looking to reduce the size and cost of new handsets while still addressing consumers' desire for new features and services," said Brian Daly, Skyworks' director of RF cellular marketing.

"Additionaly, as with our CX74017 transceiver, the direct conversion architecture used in our latest device eliminates the need for special baseband processing requirements providing our customers with the flexibility to combine this device with virtually any baseband solution currently available on the market."

Technical Details

Skyworks' new CX74063 device is based on the company's award-winning Full Type Approved (FTA) CX74017 single-chip direct conversion transceiver, which is included in more than 35 handset designs worldwide.

The CX74063's advanced architecture reduces the number of external components required to build a mobile handset by more than one-third, significantly reducing the size, cost and power requirements of next-generation GSM handsets. The device integrates all of the circuitry associated with generating a 13 MHz or 26 MHz system reference frequency, with the exception of the crystal.

In addition, it incorporates the power amplifier controller functionality when combined with a coupler, an RF detector and a power amplifier.

The CX74063 transceiver consists of integrated quad-band low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), a quadrature demodulator, baseband filters and a direct current (DC) offset correction sequencer. It uses a low-frequency, low-pass filter to perform all of the required tasks associated with rejecting in-band blocking signals and adjacent alternate channels.
This approach contrasts with superheterodyne architectures that require external surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters for each of the bands supported in a multi-band handset as well as a VHF voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).

As Skyworks' proprietary technology eliminates the intermediate-frequency (IF) conversion stage, all of the filtering for each of the bands can be performed inexpensively, within a single package.

Key transceiver features include a translational loop structure on the transmitter side, consisting of an in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) modulator, offset mixer, phase detector and internal quad-band transmit VCOs without an external tank. The transmitter offers exceptionally high performance, thus also reducing the number of external components.
The local oscillator structure is formed around a fractional-N phase lock loop (PLL) with all components integrated with the exception of the external passive loop filter. Agile channel switching enables support of GPRS multi-slot operation, and key performance parameters are optimized through the use of Skyworks' internally developed, low-cost RF packaging technology.

Pricing and Availability

Skyworks' CX74063 transceiver is packaged in a 8mm x 8mm 56-pin RF land grid array (RFLGA) and is priced at $5.50 in quantities of 10,000. The CX74063 is sampling now to key customers, volume production is scheduled for the fourth calendar quarter of this year.